Cable forming apparatus



July 7, 1931- l.. o. RElcHELT K 1,813,197

` CABLE FORMING APPARATUS Filled Aug. 30, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l July 7, 1931. L. o. RElcHEL-r 1,813,197

CABLE FORMING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 30, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 7,'1931. 1 o. RExcHx-:LT

CABLE FORMING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 5,0, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 7, 1931.

L. O. REICHELT CABLE FORMING APPARATUS Filed Augj'so, 1929 4lsheets-sheet 4 lllll llllllll,

Patented `uly 7, 13931` UNITED STATES PATENT or-'FICEl LESTER 0. REICHELT, OF NEW J BSEY, ASSIGNOB TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, IN COBPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF N'EW YORK CABLE FORMING APPARATUS Applicationy led August 30, 1929. Serial No. 389,386.

This invention relates to cable forming` apparat-us, and more particularly tov an apparatus for forming composite cables from stra-nd materials.

An object ofthe invention is to providea simple and improved apparatus whereby cables of a uniform and improved construction may be produced economically and at high speeds.

The invent-ion contemplates the provision of an apparatus for forming cables wherein a plurallty of strands are assembled and twisted together into a compact group of sub.-

`stantially circular cross section. A preferred 11 embodlment of the inventlon comprises a normally stationary but rotatable drum or strand supply carrier having a central longitudinal passage for the strands through which the strands are drawn from the supplies by any suitable means, preferably a capstan positioned at one end of the drum and having cooperating endless conveyor chains adapted to engage opposite sides of the finished cable. The strands from the supplies are drawn through a stationary distributing plate and then through a sizing die coaxial with'the drum, whereby the strands are assembled into a. compact group or cable of a predetermined size. A iyer rotatable about the drum is provided with means for carrying the assembled group of strands bodily around the strand supplies to introduce two twists in the strands for each revolution of the flyer. Means is provided for rendering ineffective the means for rotating the flyer and simultaneously rendering effective the means for rotating lthe drum to facilitate the removal and replenishing of the strand supplies.

This invention will be more fully understood from the following specification, read in connect-ion with the accompanyingI drawings forming a part thereof, 1n which Figs. 1 and 2v are complementary right and *left hand fragmentary 'elevational views which when placed end to end show a cable forming apparatus constituting an embodiment of the invention;

Figs. 3 and 4 are complementary right and left hand fragmentary plan views thereof:

Fig. 5 isja fragmentary sectionftaken on end of the flyer shown in Fig. 1; and

nected left and right hand portions line 5-5 of Fig. 1, in which 'representations which would constitute repetitions of struc-:ff tures shown have been eliminated for clearI ness;

' Fig. 6 isa fragmentary sectional view show? -ing the interior arrangement of 4the left han Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic perspectivefview which taken together with Fig. 6 constitutes a preferred arrangement for driving the apparatus.

The embodiment of the invention herein illustrated and described may be employed to advantage in the manufacture of telephone cables from a plurality of twisted pairs of insulated electrical conductors, and more particularly for assembling and twisting a plurality of insulated conductor pairs into so-V called cable units which may be em loyed as individual telephone cables or Whi assembled into larger telephone cables of any desired size.

Referring to the drawings in which similar parts are indicated by identical reference nu mera-ls, a cable forming apparatus generall embodying the invention includes essentialyl ly (Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive) a drum or strand supply ycarrier 20, a cotton or other textile serving head 21, a. flyer 22 having intercon- 23 and 25, respectively, a capstan 26 and a take-up 27,

.having a distributor 29. An electric motor 30 of any suitable type (Fig. 7), offset lfrom the centerline of the machine, is suitably connected to a main shaft 31 upon which are secured two spaced driving gears 32-32, which are selectively engageable by gears 33 and 34, in a manner to bemade clear hereafter, for the purposeof el'ectin the operation of variousportions of the a ove apparatus The drum 20 carries a plurality of supply reels 35 which are rotatable about their individual axes in interconnected annular members 36 of the drum. It will be noted thatI the drum is provided with a central longitudinal passage 37 for the strands and that the supply' reels are arranged with their axes of rotation parallel to and laterally spaced from the said passage. The reels are designed to constitute strand supplies for the apparatus maybe.

Aao

ing the arm 41 and pulley 40 to maintain a.

predetermined tension in the strands as they are being unwound from the reels and to act as a brake to stop the reels immediately upon breaking of the strands.

The flyer 22 is provided with spaced annular discs 44 and 45 having flanged peripheral portions 46, whereby the flyer is rotatable upon spaced rollers 47 (Figs. 1 and 6). A

stationary cradle 50 is mounted in the interior of the left hand portion 23 of the flyer and serves as a support for the cotton serving mechanisms. Secured to the left end of the drum 20 are a plurality of arms 51 (Fig. 6) which constitute a supporting frame for a perforated distributo-r plate 52- which is provided with a number of apertures to correspond with the number of strands or conductor pairs being formed into cable, the apertures being so positioned with respect to each other as to determine the relative positions of the strands in the finished cable unit. It should be understood that the individual pairs are passed through individual apertures in the plate 52, which, due to the tension exerted upon the strands 39 by pulleys 40, removes any tendency of the strands to tangle or twist due to the strains set `up in them while stored upon the reel. During the normal operation of the apparatus the drum 20 is stationary, the strands being drawn from the supply reels thereof through the central passage 37 of the drum and then through the distributing plate 52. A sizing die 60 (Fig. 6) is carried by the flyer 22 and is coaxial with the passage 37 of the drum. The strands passing from the distributing plate 52 are assembled together by the sizing die 60 and the assembled group is passed through a sleeve 61 of the cotton serving head 21. The

cotton serving head is provided with a feeding finger 62 which rotates in conjunction with the flyerabout the strands to remove cotton threads or other suitable binding inaterial from a cop 64 and apply them spirally about the assembled group of strands. Mounted upon the cradle 50 and in alignment with the cotton serving head 21 is a magazine of cotton cops 65 which are carried upon a core 66 and successively shifted in any suitable manner to the sleeve 61 when the supply on the latter has been exhausted. A final sizing die in the form of a sleeve 67 is journaled in the sleeve 66 so as to be slidable therein and secured to the flyer 22 so as to be rotatable therewith.

Upon emerging from the rotating die 60 the bundle of strands are' found to have assumed the form of a cable or cable unit 68', the cotton threads removed from the cop 64 forming a binding 69 therearound whereby the strands are maintained in their relative positions as predetermined by the distributor plate 52.

The left hand portion 23 of the flyer includes a shell portion 70 (Fig. 1) having apertures which permit access to the apparatus mounted therein, and is rotatably mounted in a pedestal 71 which contains driving and gearing arrangements, indicated in l* ig. 6 for operating the serving head 2l. rl`he right hand portion 25 of the flyer is provided with a similar apertured shell portion 72 which is rotatably mounted in a pedestal 73 which likewise contains suitable driving and gearing apparatus, schematically shown in Fig. 7.

The right and left hand portions of the flyer are interconnected by means of a beam 75 and a second beam 76, oppositely disposed thereto. The beam 76 is provided with a longitudinal groove 77 containing oppositely disposed idler rollers 79 (Figs. 1 and 3), over which the cable drawn from the cotton serv `ing head 21 is carried around a left hand sheave S0 to a sheave 81 of the right hand flyer portion 25. The cable 69 is passed over the right hand sheave 8l and under a third sheave 83 for the purpose of centering the cable with reference to a standard sizing die 8S (Figs. 2 and 4) which is mounted upon a t-able portion of the pedestal 73 for the purpose of centering the cable 68, in turn, with reference to the capstan.

The capstan 26 which draws the cable through the apparatus consists of a easing 92 enclosing a group of four sprockets 93 upon which are rotatably mounted in caterpillar fashion a pair of endless chains 95-95. l` he sprockets 93 are positively driven from the main shaft 3l in a manner to be describedl hereinafter. The capstan is provided with a suitable register 99 for the purpose of measuring the speed, amount, and rate of passage of the finished cable therethrough.

The take-up 27 next engages the cable and consists of a housing 100 and a vertical guide 101 upon which is mounted the distributor 29. The distributor 29 consists of a pivotally mounted arm 102 which is adapted by any suitable apparatus to permit its movement upwardly and downwardly upon the vertical guide 101 for the purpose of4 applying the cable 68 upon the take-up reel in a smooth, compact style without kinking. The arm 102 is provided, at the extremity thereof, with a roller 103 which engages the cable 68 and permits its passage thereover without deleterious friction.

Details of the gearing and drivev arrangements lwill be made clear by reference to Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawing. A shift lever 104 mounted externally of the pedestal 73 is suitlably connected by any conventional means 107, rotatable with 'the .shaft 106, is connected by sprocket 109, the latter being rotatable with through the normally stationary drum means of a chain drive 108 to a a hollow hub portion 112 of the right hand flyer shell 72. This constitutes a means for driving one end of the iyer. l

The flyer 22 is driven at its opposite eId y means of a'planetary gearing arrangement comprising large ring gears 115 and 116 secured to the annular discs 44 and 45 respecv tively-,.and having diametrically opposed pinions 117 meshing therewith (Fig. 7), the pinions 117 being secured to the ends of horizontal shafts 118-118 rotatably j ournaled in the normally stationary drum 20. T he speed and direction of rotation of the flyer may be changed in any Well known manner by the use of change gears (not shown).

A novel meansy is provided for driying the cotton serving head 21 from the rotating iiyer 22. Secured to the left hand Hyer portionI 23 is a ring gear 121 which meshes with a pinion 122 connected to a primary spool 123 of a` conventional variable speed transmission mounted in the housing 71. The;` primary spool 123 of the variable speed transmission is connected by a belt, chain or other suitable means 124, indicated by dotted lines, to a secondary spool 125 thereof. The secondary spool 125 of the variable speed transmission is connected with a pinion 128 which meshes with a gear 129 secured to a rotatable shaft 131 through which the motion of the gear 129 is transmitted to a similar gear- 132. The

,gear 132 meshes with av gear 133 fixed upon one end of a hollow rotatable sleeve 134 upon the opposite end of which is secured a similar gear 136 Vwhich meshes with a pinion 137 to rotate a gearv 139. The gear 139 is mounted upon a. shaft 140 extending transversely of and journaled inthe end portions of the stationary cradle '50 to transmit the motion of the gear 139 to alarger gear 141 which, through gears 142Jand 143, acts to rotate the sleeve 61 of the cotton serving head 21 in conjunction with the flyers at arelative speed determined by the desired angle of lay of the l cotton binderapplied upon the' cable 68 by' the cotton serving head. The speed and di-` ,rection of rotation of the cotton serving head may be varied in any well known manner Vby substituting any desired gearing' arrangrgjefV ment or train of gears for the gear 122.-

t A planetary gearingarrangement is pro-- vided whereby the cradle 5o is held stationary during the rotation of the flyer. A rotatable shaft 144 carried in the left hand flyer portion 23 has keyed thereto at its ends a pair of gears 145-145. One of the gears 145 meshes with a stationary gear 146 affixed to the pedestal 71, and the other gear 145 meshes with a stationary gear 147 similar to the gear 146, and attached to the cradle 50.

The drum 20, although normally stationary, may be rotated by means of the followlng drive arrangement. The

153, which is rotatable about shaft 106, and upon the other end of which is affixed a sprocket 154. A chain 156 connects the sprocket 154 with a sprocket 157 ywhich is mounted upon a hollow shaft 158 extending through the hub portion 112 of the iyer and having a gear 160 affixed thereto. The gearv 160 meshes with a pair of oppositely disposed gears 161-161 mounted upon one end of rotatable shafts 162-162 which lat their opposite ends gears 163-163 whic in turn engage between them, and mesh with a gear 164 ailixed to and rotatable with a hub portion 165 secured to the drum and extending through the gear 115. The shafts gear 34 is `slidably keyed to one end of a hollowvshaft 162-162 are rotatably journaled in the flyer.

The planetary gearing arrangement just described constitutes means for driving the drum, while the flyer is held stationary in a manner hereinafter described.

To the rear of the shaft 106 and intermediate the spaced gears 32-32, is a stationary rack 167 (Fig; 7) which during the normal operation of the machine is engaged by gear 34 to thereby positively lock the drum against4 rotation. W'hen it is desired to rotate the normally stationary drum 20, as for instance to remove or replenish the strand supplies, or to successively present various portions of the drum to an inspector orl repairman,

.the shift lever 104 is thrown to the right and by `reason of its engagement with the clutch 168 by means of which a shaft 169 is adapted to be driven from the main yshaft 31.

The shaft 169 is provided with suitable gears 170 to rotate a shaft 171 which is connected with they sprocketst93 of the capstan 26 to constitute a driving means thereof. To the right of the capstan the shaft 169 is provided with bevel gears 172 of anysuitable type to rotate an auxiliary shaft 174 of the distributor 29. Suitable gearing 175-175 connected by a rotatable shaft 176 1s provided for actuating' the shaft 178 of the take-up reel 27. The speed of the capstan 26 and the take-up 27 may be readily altered if desired, by the substitution of any suitable change gears in place of the bevel gears 170 and 172. By mounting the reel of the takeup 27 upon a portable truck 179, empty reels may be readily inserted in place of full reels to permit continuous operation of the machine.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The strands or pairs of insulated wire 39 are drawn from the supply reels 35 on the stationary drum 20, through the distributing face plate 52, into the sizing die which rotates with the left hand flyer portion 23, and through the cotton serving head 21. The cotton binding 69 is applied to the cable unit 68 by the cotton' serving head as the cable unit passes away from the cop Sleeve 61. The cable is then drawn through the final sizing die 67 around the flyer sheave 80, along the grooved rollers 79 and over the right hand flyer sheaves 81 and 83. From the pedestal 73 the cable passes through the standard sizing die 88, whence it is drawn by the capstan 26, from which it is wound upon the take-up reel 27 by rotation of the shaft 178.

It will Vbe understood' that the rotating flyer 22 carries the assembled group of strands or cable unit 68 bodily around the strand supplies about an axis of rotation coinciding with the axis of the drum 20. This causes two twists vto be introduced in the strands in the direction for each revolution of the flyer, one between the stationary distributor plate 52 and the flyer sheave and another between the flyer sheave 81 and the sizing die 88. The number of twists per unit length of the finished cable unit is obviously determined by the relative rotating speeds of the flyer and the capstan 26. The amount of strand material or, in other words, the length of the individual strands per unit length of the finished cable unit is determined by the number of twists per unit length introduced between the stationary distributor plate 52 and the'flyer sheave 80.

'As the cable unit passes from the flyer sheave 81 tothe sizing die 88, another twist is introduced in the individual strands for each revolution of the flyer, thus doubling the number of initial twists per unit length. However, the length of. the strands in the finished cable unit is sufficient only for one half of the number of twists therein. This causes a tightening down of the outer strands of the cable unit with a corresponding reducy tion in diameter, and with a bulging of the inner strands of the cable unit. When assembling the cable units into a large cable,

site to that of the twists in the cable units and by a number of twists per unit length which is one half the number of twists per unit lengthin the cable units. Consequently, each twist in the larger cable removes exactly one twistin the individual units and thus the number of twists per unit length in the individual cable units of the finished cable is the same as the number of twists per unit length introduced in the strands between the stationary distributor plate and the flyer sheave 80. Consequently, the tightening down of the outer strands and the bulging of the inner strands of the cable unit referred to above is relieved, and` the finished cable contains just sufficient strand material to constitute a so called dead cable.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a certain type of apparatus, it is obviously capable of utility in various other forms, and therefore it is not desired that the invention be limited to the embodiment shown but only by the scope of the appended claims.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. In a cable forming apparatus, a normally stationary strand supply carrier having a longitudinal passage for thestrands, a plurality of strand supplies mounted upon the carrier with their axes of rotation parallel to and spaced laterally from said passage, a rotatable flyer for carrying the strands bodily around the strand supplies, means for rotating the flyer, means for rotating the strand supply carrier, and common means for rendering efl'ect-ive the means for rotating the flyer and simultaneously rendering ineffective the means for rotating the carrier.

2. In a cable forming apparatus, a rotatable strand supply carrier, a plurality of strand supplies supported upon the carrier, a flyer for carrying the strands from the'supplies bodily around the carrier, means for rotating the flyer, means for rotating the carrier, and common means ,for rendering effective the means for rotating the carrier and simultaneously rendering ineffective the means for rotating the flyer.

3. In a cable forming apparatus, a rotatablevstrand supply carrier, a plurality of strand supplies supported upon the carrier,

means for drawing the strands from `the supplies, a rotatable flyer for twisting the strands, means for rotating the carrier, means for rotating the flyer, and common means for rendering effective the means for rotating the flyer and simultaneously locking the carrier against rotation.

4. In a cable forming apparatus, a rotatable strand supply carrier, a plurality of strand supplies supported thereby, a flyer for twisting the strands, means for rotating the flyer, means for rotating the carrier, common means for selectlvely locking the carrier or the flyer against rotation, and means for llO 45 I fective the means for rotating the member rendering effective the means for rota-tino' the flyer and simultaneously rendering the Iocking means effective for locking the carrier.

5. In a cable forming apparatus, a rotatable strand supply carrier, a plurality of strand supplies supported thereby, a flyer for twisting the strands, means for rotating i the flyer, means for rotating the carrier, common. means for selectively locking the carrier or the flyer against rotation, and means for rendering effective tliexmeans for rotating the carrier and simultaneously rendering the locking means effective for locking the flyer.

6. In a cable forming apparatus a strand supply carrier, a plurality of strand supplies supported by the carrier, means for assembling the strands from the supplies into a single Group, means rotatable about the assemble .group of strands for applying a binder thereto, a rotatable flyer for carrying the bound group of strands bodily around the strand supplies, and means actuated by the rotation of the flyer for rotating the binder applying means.

7. In a cable forming apparatus a strand supply carrier, a plurality of strand supplies supported by a carrier, means for assembling the strands from the supplies into a single group with the strands occupying predetermined relative positions therein, means for serving 'a binder upon the assembled group of strands to maintain the strands in the predetermined relative positions, a lvrotatable flyer for carrying the assembled group bodily around the strand supplies and a train of gears between the 'flyer and the binder serving means for driving the serving means from the flyer. l

8. In a cable forming apparatus, a rotatable strand supply carrier, a strand supply supported upon the carrier, a rotatable member for carrying a-strand .from the supply bodily around the carrier, means for rotating the member, means for rotating the carrier, and means -for selectively rendering efand the means for rotating the carrier.

9. In a -cableforming apparatus, a rotaty' able strand supply carrier, a strand supply supported upon the carrier.. a rotatable member for carrying the strand from the supply bodily around the carrier, means for rotating the member, means for rotating the carrier, and means vfor rendering effective the means neously rendering ineffective the means for rotating the member.

10. In a cable forming'apparatus, a rotatable strand supply carrier, a strand supply supported upon the carrier, arotatable mem ber for carrying a strand from the supply bodily around the carrier, and common means forselectively locking the carrier' or the member against rotation.

11. In a cable forming apparatus, a strand the strands from the supplies into a single group, a rotatable member for carrying the bound group of strands bodily around the supplies, means for rotating the member, and means including a planetary gearing arrangement for actuatmg the inding means through the rotation of the member.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 20th day of August, A. I).

LESTER O. REICHELT.

for rotating the carrier and simulta- 

